At opposition-government meeting, stress on diplomatic engagement with China

In a statement issued after a three-hour meeting MEA spokesperson said, participants expressed “strong support for India's approach and also for the need for national unity”, and stressed the “importance of India and China to remain engaged through diplomacy.”

NEW DELHI: India is keeping open its doors for negotiation and conciliation with China over the Doklam standoff, despite high decibel rhetoric from Beijing.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed opposition leaders on the origin and cause of the current problem near the tri-junction area focused on China's actions which is seen as an attempt to change the ground position by building roads in disputed territory.

In a statement issued after a three-hour meeting MEA spokesperson said, participants expressed "strong support for India's approach and also for the need for national unity", and stressed the "importance of India and China to remain engaged through diplomacy."

All parties, MEA said, underscored the "unique nature of very close and longstanding India - Bhutan relationship."

There is heightened interest in how this standoff may be resolved. Sources pointed out that the MEA, represented by the foreign secretary, who briefed the leaders, did not rule out Indian withdrawal from their present positions.

While both sides are constantly communicating on the issue, India's gesture of keeping the door open would mean that India is giving China an opportunity to step back. India and China have been through an eight-year long standoff in Sumdurong Chu, which actually lasted from 1986 to 1992 when both sides sat down to negotiate the 1993 agreement on peace an tranquillity. So India would have nothing against a long standoff or a stalemate.

Opposition has done the right thing by standing firmly behind the government, but it should also suggest ways and means to start the meaningful dialogue with China which is adamant to budge even an inch.